Black Point hosts 'Death and Dying'

Steve Person, a docent at Black Point Estate, plays the part of an 1880s funeral director for the special program "Death and Dying in the Victorian Era." Person also is a present-day funeral director at Toynton Funeral Home in Walworth. Terry Mayer/staff photo.

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If you go

•What: "Death and Dying in the Victorian Era," a special program at Black Point Estate, Lake Geneva

•When: 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

•Where: Boat departs from and returns to the Riviera dock in downtown Lake Geneva

LAKE GENEVA — This time of year, people can't seem to get enough of goblins, ghosts and zombies. The staff at Black Point Estate, Lake Geneva's historical site and unlikely candidate for such things, is hoping to tap into the lure of Halloween tales of the dead and undead with a special Oct. 18 program, “Death and Dying in the Victorian Era."

Estate Director David Desimone explained, “One of the greatest challenges for historic house museums is creating new and different programs for repeat visitors. While this program is building upon the rise in popularity surrounding Halloween, we will remain true to our mission of sharing historically accurate stories.”

That means there will be no zombies lurking on Black Point's wrap-around front porch, no ghosts drifting up the stairs, no goblins looking for treats in the parlor and no headless horseman galloping up the hundred steps from the lake. Before you get too comfy, though, you should know there will be plenty of tales of woe and misery, laced with a good amount of funeral history and lore.